METRO Rolls into Pasadena

METRO wheels are rolling in Pasadena. Residents heading downtown or to the Texas Medical Center can now board a METRO Park & Ride bus and enjoy an easy, cost-efficient ride.

The 244 Monroe/Pasadena Park & Ride officially hit the streets Monday, April 6, providing service from the Pasadena Town Square Mall, located at the intersection of Pasadena and Harris, in the City of Pasadena.

The new Park & Ride service was made possible through a partnership between METRO, Harris County Precinct 2 and the City of Pasadena. This type of venture is not new to METRO, or the county. The two entities have teamed up before to improve mobility in East Harris County.

“We’ve proven this model of interagency cooperation works,” said Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Sylvia R. Garcia. “By joining in an interlocal agreement with METRO, we are giving Pasadena-area residents the ability to plug into an established transportation system that can take them to downtown, the Texas Medical Center and other important destinations.”

The Baytown Park & Ride service, which launched July 2007, was the first project of its kind – one that METRO President & CEO Frank J. Wilson touts as important steps toward an integrated transit system for the region.

“Creating a seamless system is more efficient and cost effective than a scattershot approach to mass transit,” Wilson said. “It’s important to remember that the people who ride transit also pay for it – not just with fares, but with sales tax dollars.”

The 244 Monroe/Pasadena Park & Ride will operate four trips each weekday morning and five trips each weekday afternoon, with service running from 5:48 to 7:23 a.m. and 4:05 to 5:58 p.m. The bus will make a stop at the Monroe Park & Ride lot before heading into downtown on the existing 244 Monroe route.

At the Monroe Park & Ride, patrons can transfer to the 297 Southpoint route to head to the Texas Medical Center.

The one-way fare will be $3.75 and customers are encouraged to use the METRO Q® Fare Card, which offers transfers and five free trips for every 50 paid trips.

For a complete schedule of the 244 Monroe/Pasadena Park & Ride, click here.